Table construction



Vlarch29, 1932. J. B. OCONNOR ET'AL 1,851,055

TABLE CONSTRUCTION Filed Aug. 1 6, 1926 fivvf/vrokv. JOHN CONNOR .B ZZHN ER 2% Ari- 1:

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Patented Mar. 29, 1932 MENTfQFm 1 J'OHN'E'OGONNOR AND aonn B. AnLEa'oF-AURoBA; IL INOIS; As s'IG'NoRsyr-o LYON METAL PRODUCTS, INCORPORATED, 'oF AUB RA, ILLINOIS, A ooRroItA'r oNfloF TABLE ooNsrnUoTIon Application filedAugust 16, 1926. Serial No. 129,366}

This inventionrelates to table tops,'particularly those constructed of metal, andhas for its object the provision of a top thatwill be light inweight and capable of being easily handled and yet be strong and durable.

The present invention also contemplates a'structure wherein a central cover maybe so secured to'the top without the use of tacks, brads, glue and the like, that it will be tautly held against wrinkling, may be removed and 1 replaced, and will havenone of its edges ex.-

posed to become frayed or loosened. With the above and otherob ects in; view, as will be. apparent, this-inventlon consists in the construction, combination and arrangementof parts, all as hereinafter more .fully described, claimed and illustrated in. the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a top plan View of a table top constructed in accordance with the present invention, parts thereof beingbrokenaway to better illustrate 'thecooperation between the frame and cover carrying and supporting inset. H Figure 2 is a bottom plan view thereof. Figure 3 is a transverse section taken completely through the top along {line 3'3 of Figure 1. H

Figure 4 is anenlarged'section taken partly through the top along line 33 of Figure 1,

to disclose the details ofconstruction of the frame and the-mounting and lockingof the cover carrying and supporting inset therein; Figure 5 is a perspective view of the under side of one corner'of the cover carrying and supporting inset; and

" of the cover carrying'and. supporting inset.

' Cooperating with the frame is a movable inset which .so carries and supports a cover that its edges are tightly clamped between the frame-and inset. The cooperation *between the frame and inset is such that the former supportsthe latterat its edges so that the application of weight to the inset tends to tighten its fit in the frame. I

Reference being had more particularly .to

the drawings, 10 designates the'central'portionof a single sheet ofmetal surroundedby the upwardly inclined wall 11. This central portion constitutes.thebottom of a chamber or depression centrallylocated in the table top for the reception of the coverv carrying and supporting'inset as; will be described. Thesheet of metal continues, inia plane parallel to-the plane of the central portion 10 beyond the upper extremity of the. walLll to form the horizontal frame section 12. At

the edge of the frame section 12 the sheet of mctal'is bent downwardly to form the'table edge 13. Thus a frame'12 is created enclosmg a central depression or chamber 0..

In order to strengthen the frame 12and "the edge 13 of the table an inner-bracing member is positioned under the frame 12 adjoiningtheedge13. .This bracing member is formed from a single sheet of metalaor other suitable material and has a horizontal portion 14 resting flush against the under sur- 'face of the frame v12 and'a slop-ing wall 15 resting flush against the under surface of the wall 11. 1 p v The horizontal section 14. of theinner brac 111g member is not coextensive with the frame section 12, but terminates ina lateral element -16 resting parallel tothe edge 13 of the table. The lower-edge of the element 16 is'bent to ward the edge 13 as at 17, and at its edge is again bent outwardly to, form a flange 18 resting flush against, the, inner face of the table edge 13. The table edge 13-is then bent or crimped as at 19 over the flange 18 of the bracing member to rigidly and fixedly se cure said bracing member to said edge 13 of the table top.

f At its lower end the wall 15of the bracing member has anextension 20 formed thereon which extends under andrests snugly against the under surface of the central portion .10of the p 5 v v v From the foregoing it is clearthat'a frame is provided consisting of the section 12 having a dependent hollow box section edge which acts as a brace for the frame and for the edge thereof. It will be also observed that from a point adjoining the edge of the frame section 12 to a point under the rim of the central portion 10 a double thickness of metal is provided which adds to the strength of the top, particularly at the points Where the legs are attached to the top. v

The legs 21 of the table are secured by suitable brackets 22 to the frame 12 between the wall 11 and the box section edge 13 so that these legs bear against and support the table top where the same is fully reinforced and strengthened by this double thickness of metal.

At regular intervals the central portion 10 of the frame is pierced by the rectangular apertures 23 adjoining the base of the sloping Wall 11, said apertures also extending through and piercing the extension20 of the wall 15 of the under-bracing member of the frame.

Cooperating with the chamber G surrounded by the sloping wall 11 is an inset 24, the dimensions of which coincide generally with the dimensions of the chamber C at the upper end of the wall 11. This inset 24 has a depending flange 25 about its outer edges, said flange being bent inwardly to occupy a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the. wall 11 when the inset is positioned coplanar with the frame section 12. The lower edges of the flange 25 of the inset are provided with a series of tongues 26 spaced one from the other to correspond to the spacing of the rectangular apertures 23 in the central portion 10 of the frame.

A' cover 27 is placed upon the inset 24 and drawn tautly so that the edges thereof extend overthe flanges 25 of said inset. The edges of this cover are piercedwith a series of apertures spaced to correspond with the spacing of the tongues 26 and apertures'23.

Before the inset 24 is positioned in the frame 12, the cover is placed thereon with the tongues 26 passing through the apertures adjoining the edges of said cover. The inset with the cover 27 so attached thereto is then placed in the chamber G surrounded by the frame section 12, the tongues 26 passing through the apertures 23 in the central portion 10 and the extension 20. These tongues may then be bent outwardly and upwardly to rest flush against the face of wall 15 of the bracing member.

The outer edge of the bracing member is held in place by the crimping 19 in the edge 13, while the inner edge or side of said bracing member represented by the extension 20 is held in place against the central portion 10 .by means of the tongi'les 26,'aswill be seen from Figure 4. Therefore, the tongues 26 serve the double purpose of completing the attachment of the bracing member in place and of locking the inset to the frame.

The foregoing description of the structure forming the subject matter of the present invention clearly demonstrates that a light, strong table top is produced having a central cover 27, the edges of which are unexposed but are held between the wall 11 and the fianges25. Should it be desired at any time to change the cover 17 it is only necessary to straighten the tongues 26, remove the inset 24, recover said inset and return it to its place after which the tongues 26 may be bent to assume the positions illustrated in the drawings.

The edge of the table top is fully protected and strengthened by the box section edge created between the'bracing member and the edge 13 of the frame, while a double thickness of metal is presented to the brackets 22 carrying the upper ends of the legs 21.

The parallel walls 11 and 15 serve as a support for the inset 24 at the edges thereof, and because of the double thickness of metal below the edges of the inset and the flange 25, a rigidstructure is produced capable ofresisting and supporting the normal weights placed on the top. .Thus a table top is created that'isboth light and'strong and is fully braced and strengthened at all necessary points. i

If the top heretofore described is used as an element of a'folding table wherein the legs are folded to rest in positions parallel to the plane of the inset 24, these legs may befolded into the space between the wall 15 and vertical element 16 of the bracingmember so that they will be contained within the confines of the thickness of the table.

Having thus described our invention what we claim as new'and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: i

1. A table top consisting of a sheet of'material centrally depressed to create a frame and bent laterally at its edge to form a de pending element, and a bracing member under said frame and bent to conform generally to the shape of the frame and depression, and having a lateral portion resting parallel to'the depending element of the frame with its outer edge bent forward and secured to the edge of said depending'element.

2. A table top consisting of a sheet of material centrally depressed to create a frame surrounding a chamber and bent laterally at its edge to form a depending element, a bracing member under said frame and bent to conform generally to the shape of the frame and chamber, an inset'seatedin said'chamber, and means carried by sai'd'inset for-securing said bracing memberto the'frame.

3. A tabletop consisting of a'sheet of material centrally depressed'to create a frame its edge to forma 'dependingelement, "a bracsurrounding a chamber and bent laterally at ing member undersaid frame and bent to conform generally to the shapeof the frame and chamber, and having a lateral portion resting parallel to the depending element of the frame with its outeredge bent toward and secured-to the edge of said flange, an. inset seated in said chamber, and means car- IlGd by said inset for securing said'inset and said bracing memberto the bottom of said chamber. I v

4. A table top consisting of a sheet of metal having a central opening and internal sloping fianges, an inset having sloping flanges at a similar angle, a cover extending over the inset and down between the flanges of the inset and table top, means for reinforcing the table;

top and the internal flanges, and'means on said inset for holding said inset and said reinforcing means in place.

5. A table top consisting of a sheet of material centrally depressed to create a frame surrounding a chamber and bentlaterally at its edge to form a'depending element, a

bracing member under said frame and bent to conform generally to the shape of the frame and chamber, an inset seated in said chamber, and means for securing said bracingmember to the frame.

6. A table top consistingjof a sheet of ma: 7

terial centrally depressed to create a frame and bent laterally at its edge to form a depending flange, and a bracing member positioned adjacent the under side of the frame and having a depending portion positioned in substantial parallelism with the depending and the frame, and means for securing said bracing member to the frame.

8. A table top consisting of a sheet of material centrally depressed tocreate a frame surrounding a chamber and bent laterally at its edge to form a depending element, a

bracing member under said frame and bent to conform generally to the shape of the frame and chamber, an inset seated in said chamber,

and clamping means extending below the V inset and through the bracing member and frame.

In witness whereof we have hereunto subscribed our names.

JOHN B. 'OGONNOR. JOHN B. ADLER. 

